Wilson Chandler is a fromer American professional basketball player in the NBA. He played in the small forward position, usually a swingman. Chandler began playing basketball at the Fairplain East Elementary School when he was in fifth grade. The love for the game stayed on and powered by his admiration of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, Chandler went on to represent Benton High School at the state level.
In his sophomore and junior seasons, Chandler played exceptionally to receive All-State mentions, scoring 22.4 points per game with 12 rebounds per game in his junior season. The Tigers went to a 19-4 record with Chandler in the lead, getting the player into the First Team All-State by the Michigan Basketball Coaches Association.
In his senior season, Chandler scored at the rate of knots, with 24 points per game and 12 rebounds with 5 assists and 4 blocks per game – exceptional figure that helped the Tigers go undefeated through the entire regular season and reach the number 1 rank in the state. They were, eventually, beaten by Holt High School at the regional finals. Chandler was named as Mr. Basketball in Michigan State.
| Born | 10 May 1987 |
| Nationality |
United States
|
| Nickname | Ill Will |
| Team History | |
Brooklyn
|
2019 - 2020 |
Philadelphia
|
2018 - 2019 |
LA Clippers
|
2019 |
Denver
|
2012 - 2018 |
New York
|
2007 - 2011 |
|
Denver
|
2011 |
Chandler went on to attend DePaul University and in his freshman season, scored at 10.6 points per game with 7.2 rebounds. He was named as the Big East Rookie of the Week, twice through the season, while his rebounding average was the 10th highest in the state. Chandler was also named to the Big East Freshman Team.
In his second season, Chandler took off from where he had stopped in the first season. 14.7 points per game with 6.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game got him into the All-Big East Second Team while he also recorded eight double-doubles during the course of the season.
Despite his entire commitment to the team cause, Chandler couldn’t take DePaul beyond the quarterfinals of the NIT.
After just two seasons in college, Chandler decided to let go of his final two years and decided to declare for the 2007 NBA Draft. His pre-draft workouts were marred by an injury that prevented him from playing with many teams. However, it is said that the New York Knicks’ general manager Isiah Thomas knew about Chandler from his performances at DePaul – a college Thomas has close ties with. The Knicks picked Chandler at 23rd overall, at the 2007 NBA Draft.
In his rookie season, there wasn’t much playing time for the youngster until the Knicks were out of contention for a playoff spot. He played 35 games, started 16, and played around 19.6 minutes per game. With 7.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game, Chandler had shown that he was capable of playing at the highest level.
In 2008-09, the Knicks had a change of coach and with that change, Chandler started playing regularly. Starting 70 of all the 82 games he played for the Knicks that season, Chandler made the most of the 33.4 minutes of playing time by almost doubling his scoring rate to 14.4 points per game. He had a career high 5.4 rebounds per game while his 2.1 assists and .9 steals & blocks per game were also career highs.
This performance got Chandler into the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge as part of the Sophomore squad.
In 2009-10, Chandler raised his scoring to 15.3 points per game while matching his previous season’s figures in rebounding and assists. Chandler has looked like someone who belongs in the NBA and still being young, there is a lot of place for him to develop.
He was traded to the Denver Nugget on February 22, 2011. While Chandler had to adapt to a more open offense, he quickly improved his performance with the Nuggets. Together with his teammates, Raymond Felton and Danilo Gallinari, Chandler became a part of one of the most explosive teams in NBA that season.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, he joined the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association. Chandler helped the Lions reach playoffs but he wasn’t able to play during the playoffs.
Chandler returned to the Denver Nuggets but was forced to end his season after 8 games due to a left hip injury. While he signed with the Nuggets again, he was unable to play for the whole 2015 to 2016 Season due to surgery for his right hip injury.
He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on July 6, 2018. Chandler missed the first nine games with the team because of a hamstring injury.
Career Accomplishments:• Second-team All-Big East (2007)• Big East All-Rookie Team (2006)• Third-team Parade All-American (2005)
